Japan is “one of the countries na talagang tumutulong sa atin, nauuna pa,” President Rodrigo Duterte said during his press conference following his official visit to the Russian Federation on October 6 a Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Davao City.

The President made the statement when asked if he is attending the inauguration of new Japanese Emperor this month.

He added that it is his “personal feeling na, my sentiment, that I should be there even just for a half a day” with a “very lean” delegation. “Tutal ako lang man siguro ang iniimbita. Hindi na ako magdala nang maraming tao. There’s nothing to discuss there except to be a witness to the enthronement of the new Emperor,” he said.

The President also reported that in Russia “we reaffirmed the Philippines’ strong commitment to a robust and comprehensive partnership with the Russian Federation on the basis of mutual respect, trust, and pragmatism.”

“In my bilateral meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, we agreed to broaden and deepen our ties in all areas of cooperation — from security and defense to trade and investment, agriculture, energy, science and technology, and socio-cultural exchanges,” he said.